Flyway byway future looks bright

Though none of the plans and ideas are final, the future of the parish’s Flyway Byway looks quite promising.

Originally, the Byway would have taken travelers through some of the parish’s natural beauty along La. 99, into the Lorrain Bridge and Bayou Lacassine area as well as the National Wildlife Refuge. During a public meeting this week, however, organizers announced that, with legislative backing, they would like to have the Flyway make a huge circle in Jeff Davis Parish (JDP), connecting southern areas of the parish by road, water, bikeways and pathways.

One of the greatest aspects of the current, as well as the proposed, Flyway is that it is already there for us enjoy. Boating and fishing has always been a favored pastime in this area but canoeing and kayaking, as well as jet skiing, are taking off in this area. We are quite lucky to be able to load our outdoor equipment and head just a few miles in any direction to hit a waterway.

Plus, more and more residents are embracing healthy and athletic lifestyles, especially biking and running. Plans for the Flyway could possibly include expanding roadway shoulders to provide bike paths, while Niblett Road off of La. 99 into the Lorrain Bridge site already provides a mountain bike pathway. Organizers and area officials are also hoping that funding could somehow be secured to revamp sidewalks so runners and walkers within town limits would have safer surfaces to train and exercise on instead of roadways.

Looking at the big picture, the plans do not call for a lot of money; but they have the potential to bring in a lot of money. Many tourists, including local residents, enjoy going to rural areas or heading for locations that offer enjoyable outdoor activity. The Flyway offers just that. We already spend a lot of time fishing, hunting, or just admiring the beauty of our waterways and wooded areas. Expanding the Flyway would attract visitors from neighboring areas as well as those from across and outside the state.

The Flyway would also encourage people to stop in our towns for fuel, food, shopping, lodging and special events that take place throughout the year. As only one of 17 byways in Louisiana, the Flyway is certain to bring future success to JDP.

This is a project that is worth supporting. If you have suggestions for what you would like to see take place along the Flyway, email your ideas to ddahlquist@outlook.com. A team of planners is currently working to learn what JDP’s people want to see come to fruition to make the Flyway the number one byway destination in the state.

Short URL: http://www.jenningsdailynews.net/?p=24167

Posted by Graphic Designer 2
on Dec 6 2013. Filed under Editorial.
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